Teacher accused of taping elementary student's head to desk
Todd Lewis and Sallyann Scala (Pompton Lakes Police)
POMPTON LAKES, N.J. - A teacher and a teacher’s aide have been arrested and charged with child endangerment after reportedly taping a student’s neck to his desk for nearly an hour.
According to authorities in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, the investigation began on Oct. 31, when a 9-year-old boy at an elementary school revealed that earlier in the month, teacher Todd Lewis had placed masking tape around the back of his neck and taped his head to a desk. The student said he was taped to the desk for about 40-50 minutes while a teacher’s aide, Sallyann Scala, was present and failed to intervene.
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Lewis, 57, was charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Scala was charged with fourth-degree abuse and neglect of children.
Lewis was released on home monitoring, and Scala was served a summons to appear.
If convicted, Lewis faces five-10 years in prison. Scala could face up to 18 months in prison.
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In a statement to nj.com, the school district superintendent said both employees were placed on leave and are barred from campus.
"We want to assure our parents, students, staff and school community that we are working very closely with law enforcement to guarantee the safety and security of our students," district Superintendent Paul Amoroso said in the statement.